Exercises on diminished 7th chords ?

[daniel patschan]

What do you think: Are those exercises on dimished 7th chords usefull ? As for example, Philipp´s exercises for the independence of the fingers are exclusively build over those chords. Dohnanyi uses them also in his set of exercises (i think exercises 9-11). The hand is sometimes extensively stretched while playing them. Adele Marcus and Rosina Lhevinne also favoured them. What do you think ?

[danny elfboy]

What do you think: Are those exercises on dimished 7th chords usefull ? As for example, Philipp´s exercises for the independence of the fingers are exclusively build over those chords. Dohnanyi uses them also in his set of exercises (i think exercises 9-11). The hand is sometimes extensively stretched while playing them. Adele Marcus and Rosina Lhevinne also favoured them. What do you think ?

I suggest you to buy this book:

What Every Pianist Needs to Know About the Body

and when you're over to rethink the philosophy behind those exercises
Finger independence has nothing to do with "finger workout" or "strength"
It's a matter of tensionless movements and neuromotory coordination
In other words finger independency lies more in the mind than in your hands and imo is not gained by exercises founded on the philosophy that we must "workout the independency of your fingers" but on optimum alignement/coordination, breaking of mental barrier and accuracy